Flexible conduit.



UNITED STATES PATENT onrrcn HOWARDH. -BALnIEfrn or Primair(natur,v PENNsYLvANIA. I

, LEXIBLE sonnen.

Toalil'who'm 'itmay concern.' ,y

Be .1t known that I, HOWARD H. BALLIETT,l a resident of Plttsburgh, in the county of 'AAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flexible Conduit's; and I do hereby declare the'followingto be a full, clear,.and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to flexible conduits, and has special reference to such conduits for use with electric wires. i'

The objectof my invention is to provide a flexible conduit for electric wires and other purposes, which While possessing the necessary rigidity, flexibility, and insulating properties, may be readily bent to form curves "Without causing angles or sharp ridges in the conduit, and will provide 'againstthe separat-ion and removal from the conduit of any of the component parts of theconduit, as well as providing a smooth i 1nter1or 1n the condult, and one 1nv which the intermediate or main parts com osing the same and around the tube will e entirely inclosed, which will make the yconduit moisture and water proof, and at the same time such parts will be securely held in place.

To these ends my invention consists, generally stated, in the novel arrangement, con, struction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more specifically set forth and described and particularly pointed out Vin the claims. 'f

Toy enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to' construct and use my improved flexible conduit, `I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side view of the inner tube for the conduit. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in sectiony -of one form of my improved flexible conduit. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectlon of the same. Fig. 4 is aside view, partly 1n section, of another form of my improved flexible conduit.

As illustrated in the drawing and as .shown particularly in the form in Figs. 1

rating of the edges of the material used in sp'iaeationbf Letter-shunt, Patentedv'Oei-G. 19.11A,"-` Application yllled- October `10, 1910. Serial. Noi. 58.6,fnL41-7.l

said tube before being formedinto the said tube. The longitudinal edges v2 df the material fo'rming'the/tube 2 are drawn and held together inl any suitable manner, `and the outer surface of such tube 2 is provided with a coating of adhesive and waterproof compound, which will permeate intofand firmly cement the tape part of the intermedlate wrappings to such tube, as hereinafter described. After the inner tube 2 has been formed, the intermediate wrapping 5 is ap plied exteriorly to the same, and consists of atlat strip 6, which is resilient, and preferably of a paper or fiber, or paper iiber, andv laid against the inner face ofI a tape 7, which is formed of cotton, muslin, friction ta-pe, or other textile material to hold said strip in place and totally inclose same, while lsuch tape is preferably permeated with an adhesive compound which will resist moisture and be waterproof. `This intermediate wrapping 5 composed of the strip 6 and tape 7 is wound spirally around the tube 2 and such tape will act to inclose the .strip 6 when in place on such tube by the coils 8 of said wrapping, which will allow the tape edges to overlap each other, so that one edge of said tape, such as vthe outer edge 7 on one coil will overlap and adhere to the tape on the preceding coil as such wrapping 5 is wound on-said tube, while the other edge such as the edge 7 on the coil being downv by the next succeeding coil during the wrapping and adhere to lthe tube 2 and to the edge 7 of the preceding coil. After f the tube 2 has' thus been wrapped with the intermediate, wrapping 5 a covering 9 of braided or woven fabric is applied, which if desired can be treated with a waterproof and slow burning compound, and such cov- Strip 6 and tape 7 and will adhere to the outer edges 7 on the tape 7 and thereby form the complete conduit.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the intermediate wrapping 5 is shown as belng composed of the tape 7 and a lseries of round cords 10 in place of the strips 6, which cords are resilient and preferably formed of paper, liber or fabric, or other suitable material and laid against the inner face of such tape, so that such wrapping can be applled to the tube in like manner as before described in connection with F ig. l.

Powdered soapstone, graphite, nuca or wrapped on first named coil, will be drawn other suitable lubricant can be sprinkled or dusted in the interior of the tube 2 of the conduit-in anysuitable manner,lso as to give a smooth; slipping 'surface to the inner surface of s uch tube and thereby reduce friction -ln draw1ngin the wires. After the conduit has been sb formed it can, if desired, be subjected to and .saturated with a fire-resisting and waterproof composition to cover its surfaces, and to'said surfaces powdered mica,

-soap'stone vor4 other suitable substance can be -applied to relieve such composition of 1 any of its advantages.

sticklness usually attendant in the same.

Various other l modifications and changes inthe form, preparation yand minor details-` of construction in my improved flexible conduit maybe resorted to, without departing from the spirit'of the invention o r s acriiicing It will thus, be `seen that my improved iiexible conduity can be easily vand quickly formed and'will be of a slow burnin-g construction,` as Well as being proof against S moisture and water, ywhile atthev same time a continuous operationand can be readily to secure by Letters Patent is'-A .and cheaply'manufacturedl What I claim as my invention and desire 1. Inja iexible conduit, the combination of anv inner tube, an intermediate spiral wrapping applied exteriorly around said tube comprising a spiral strip having an inclosingwinding around and under each of the coils of said strip,l and an outer cover- Vingapplied around said wrapping.

2. In a flexible conduit, the combination of an inner tube, lan intermediate spiral wrapping applied exteriorly around 'said tube and composed of a yspiral strip and means inclosing said strip and passed under each of its coils, and an outer covering ap? plied'around said wrapping.

3. In a flexible conduit, the combination of an inner tube, an intermediate spiral wrapping-applied exteriorly around said tube and composed of a spiral strip having an inclosing tape around and under each of the spiral coils, andan outer covering applied .around said wrap ing.

. 4. ,Ina fiexibleconduit, the combination of l an innertube, an intermediate spiral wrap.

said tu e ping applied exteriorly aroun and composed of a s iral strip having an inclosing tape aroun and under the same whose edges 'overlap in yeach of the coils of the spiral strips, and anl outer covering applied around said wrap in an inner tube, an intermediate s iral wra iping applied exteriorly aroun L said tu e and composed of a spiral strip havin an inclosing adhesive tape around and un er each of the coils ofsaid s i'ral strips, and an outer covering applie around said wrapsping.

' 6. In a flexible conduit, the combination kof an inner tube, an intermediate spiral,

wrapping applied' exteriorly around said tube vand composed of a spiral strip havin an inclosing adhesive tape wound aroun and under' the same, the edges of adjacent coils of said tape overlapping each other,

and an outer covering applied around said wrapping. f l

In vtestimony whereof, I, the said HOWARD H. BALLIE'rr, have hereunto set my hand.

. HOWARD HJBALLIETT. ,c Witnesses: A

T. B. HUMrHnms,

JAMES L. WEHN.

i l e5- 5. In a flexible conduit, t e combination of 

